If the Penguins make a deep playoff run this spring, Matt Murray will need to shine.

And if Murray does ultimately shine, one decision may have paved the way.

Mike Sullivan surprised some onlookers when he opted to start Murray in consecutive games last weekend. Murray responded with arguably his finest performance of the season in Montreal on Saturday. Three nights later, Murray stopped 32 of 34 shots as the Penguins defeated the Florida Panthers in overtime, 3-2, at PPG Paints Arena thanks to Jake Guentzel’s breakaway goal.

Sidney Crosby and Guentzel were once again magical, but their heroics wouldn’t have been possible without Murray’s work.

It was a pretty ordinary showing for the Penguins, and a loss against the Panthers would have been potentially problematic, given the daunting nature of the Penguins’ upcoming schedule. Murray, though, stood his ground for a second consecutive game.